This page is for franchise owners with more than one location, more than one DBA, or more than one legal entity. Set up right, you can often cover several locations on one policy, which saves money, keeps certificates simple and closes gaps.

Insurance follows your legal entity

Your business is a legal entity, such as an LLC or a corporation. That entity is the named insured on your policy. A DBA ("doing business as") is a trade name. It has no legal standing of its own, so a policy that names only a DBA can leave you without coverage when a claim comes in.

When locations can share one policy

Insurance companies will usually combine locations or DBAs on one policy when both of these are true:

• Common ownership. The same legal entity owns every location, or the entities share the same owners.
• The same kind of business. Every location does similar work, such as several smoothie shops or several home services territories.

Example: Summit Peak Home Services LLC owns three territories that operate under different DBAs. Same owner, same work. All three can go on one policy, with each address on the location schedule.

If you own separate entities with different owners or very different operations, they may need separate policies. Your consultant will tell you which.

What your policy needs to show

1. Named insured: every legal entity's exact name. Add DBAs too, but never only the DBA.
2. Location schedule: every store, territory, warehouse or office the entity operates.
3. Endorsements: the ones your brand and each landlord require, such as additional insured, waiver of subrogation, and primary and non-contributory.
4. Certificates: each certificate shows the legal entity, the locations it applies to, and the right coverage and limits.

Mistakes to avoid

• Naming only a DBA as the insured
• Opening a new location without adding it to the policy
• Missing a landlord's insurance requirements in a new lease
• Not updating certificates after you expand, rename or change entities

At renewal

Send us your updated revenue, a complete list of locations and any changes in what you do. Ask your consultant to confirm every entity, DBA and location is listed and every required endorsement is on the policy.

Questions? Email support@rikor.io.

Related: How to make a policy change · What the certificate holder on my COI should say